Why Taraba, Oyo States Are Disqualified From Participating In Edo 2020 – Director NCDC

 Why Taraba, Oyo States Are Disqualified From Participating In Edo 2020 – Director NCDC

By Niyi Busari

Director Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) Edo State, Dr. Bruce Osha has explained why Team Taraba and Team Oyo will not participate in the 20th National Sports Festival, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

According to him,  this is because both states failed  to conduct Covid-19 and Vaccination tests for athletes and officials before traveling to the venue of the competition.

Bruce added that the two states and others who failed to follow the laid down procedures will be readmitted if they can go back to their states and conduct the two tests for athletes and officials.

“Oyo State and Taraba State will be sent packing because they did not follow the rules. The rules states that before each state depart their state, they should have their PCR results which they’re expected to bring with them and also vaccinate all their athletes but yesterday, Taraba and Oyo State did not come with their results and we cannot bend the rules, the rules must be followed so they have to go back, do their test and bring the results before we can allow them to take part in the competition.” Osha told BSN Sports.

He added, “The two states can still be admitted when they come with their results and PCR is Polymerase Chain Reaction, it’s a test that we use to detect Covid-19 virus. We use it to know whether or not someone is having Covid-19.

“You know this is the first time to country is organising sports festival in this pandemic so the rules were made by the authorities and it must be followed by all states that are competing in the sports festival.

“And the rules concerning Covid-19 PCR test is that each athletes before they leave their state must do the Covid-19 test to ascertain whether they are positive or negative and coming to the games village, they will present it for us to clear them but unfortunately Taraba State and Oyo State did not do that so that is why they will be sent back to go do their test, they can come back as they will be admitted.”

Sporting activities at the Edo 2020 will commence on Sunday 4th April and end 14th April.